1st Grade Q2 - Post 1: Happy Halloween! This week in science lab, students played with FLUBBER, which we re-named "Halloween Slime" to get in the spirit of the season :). It was fun watching the young scientists put on their thinking caps and get creative. There were "slime waterfalls," "slime gloves," "slime pumpkins," "slime bridges," "slime ghosts," and a whole host of other spooky creations! A recipe to make more flubber was sent home with all students.
Grade Q1 - Post 8: In science lab this week, first graders explored floating and sinking with Silly Putty! The young scientists first conducted a couple of experiments. First, they tested whether or not Silly Putty floated inside its "shell," and then they tested the Silly Putty by itself. Finally, the students got to design their own “flotation device” using the Silly Putty! It took several shape "drafts" before the kids found one that didn't sink!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 7: Recently in science lab, first graders explored water displacement! We practiced the scientific method, conducting three separate experiments. First, the young scientists predicted what would happen if we added 10 marbles to the cups of water. We discovered that the water level rose! I was really impressed by the students' responses when I asked why this had happened. Most were able to grasp that marbles take up space, and therefore the water needs to move and take up new space. The final experiment yielded the most giggles and squeals... the students guessed how many marbles it would take for their cups to overflow!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 6: First graders explored the last of their five senses this week -- smell! The young scientists traveled to six different learning stations, exploring a new smell or concept about smelling at each. Students discovered that while liquids may look a like, they don't always smell alike! They also learned a little bit about smelling from our BrainPOP friends, Tim and Moby. Students combined Kool-Aid, baking soda and water to create a "smelly reaction," and matched smells to the correct picture. The nose KNOWS!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 5: This week in science lab, first graders studied the next of their five senses: taste! It was arguably the most favorite :o). Specifically the young scientists were testing whether what we SEE affects the flavor we taste. Students first made a prediction. Then, they tasted three types of skittles, one at a time. They recorded what they thought each one tasted like. Next, first graders tasted the same three skittles in a random order with their eyes closed! They guessed the flavors again. Some students had trouble identifying the flavor without looking at the skittle, but others were able to. All in all, the experimenters had fun!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 5: This week in science lab, first graders continued in their study of the five senses! This week we explored eyesight. We first matched mystery eyes to the correct animal. Then, we conducted two experiments that showed us how two eyes are better than one! Together, our eyes give us good depth perception. With only one, our depth perception isn't as great. In the last experiment, we watched our pupils expand and contract by turning the lights on and off!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 4: This week in science lab, we took a break from our regular curriculum to start working in St. Timothy’s Learning Garden. We have a goal this year for all students K-4 to have a “hand” (quite literally) in planting, up-keep, and harvesting. Mrs. Morgan, one of the Pre-K assistants, has a background in agriculture and has worked very hard to plan our set of crops. I wouldn’t be able to do this without her expertise! On their “planting day,” students first had an opportunity to taste the vegetable they would plant. Then we traveled from the lab to the garden, and each student had a chance to plant seeds. Click HERE to see pictures from planting day.
1st Grade Q1 - Post 3: This week first graders continued exploring sound, sound waves, and vibrations. First, we learned some interesting facts about sound. Then, each student was given an egg filled with an unknown object (paper clips, rice, beans, pennies, marbles, etc.). First graders then had to find the person that had an egg filled with their same object, by comparing sounds made when the eggs were shaken. After that, the young scientists got to play with ear guitars made out of two plastic cups and a piece of string. They enjoyed listening to the sounds created when their strings vibrated. Finally, we listened to several different bird calls and tried to identify whether they were warning calls, communication calls or song calls.
1st Grade Q1 - Post 2: On their second visit, first graders explored the second of our five senses -- hearing! We explored sound, sound waves, and vibrations. To demonstrate the concept that sound travels through gases, solids and liquids, we conducted three experiments. The students had a great time observing salt moving as a result of sound waves, listening to vibrations in a coat hanger, and exploring sound traveling through water in metal bowls. Toward the end of class, we headed outside to count as many different sounds as we could!
1st Grade Q1 - Post 1: On their first visit, first graders began a unit on the five senses. To start, we learned about texture (how something feels when we touch it). The students had a chance to work with several different "texture plates" and attempted to transfer textures with paper, crayons and play-dough. It's also fun to find different types of textures in nature. Look together with your child for natural textures that are smooth and others that are rough and bumpy!